Did you get a voucher or gift card as part of your Christmas present this year? If so, the news is good as gift vouchers bought from December 2 2019 come with increased rights so you can get more from your gift.
So here’s what you need to know: from December 2 2019, there should be no expiry date on your gift card or voucher. If one applies, it should be at least five years from when the voucher was bought. You shouldn’t have to search too hard to find this information – your voucher or gift card should include any expiry date in writing or via email and it should also include the date it was bought.
Also, you do not have to spend the voucher in one go. If there is a balance of more than €1 remaining on the gift voucher, the retailer should refund you the difference, in cash, to your debit or credit card or by giving you another gift voucher (the expiry date will be the same as the original voucher).
If you are lucky enough to have more than one voucher to spend, you can use multiple vouchers in one transaction. For example, if something costs €100 and you have two €50 vouchers, you can use them both to pay.
Another change to the rules about vouchers is that businesses cannot refuse to accept a gift card or voucher because the name is wrong, nor can they charge you for changing the name on a voucher.
Remember gift vouchers come in many forms but whether paper or electronic, they come with new rules and new safeguards. All of this means that vouchers are an even better buy as new protections are in place to ensure consumers are not caught out by short expiry dates and unfriendly user conditions. Happy Shopping!
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